State-backed AI network used 1,200 accounts to target Sweden

A state-funded supplier used roughly 1,200 AI-driven accounts on X to target Sweden and other countries, according to a report from Sweden's Psychological Defence Agency obtained by SVT.

The network, called “Holiday” by the agency, produced more than 50,000 posts, comments and shares during 2025 and 2026 in an effort to deepen polarisation in Sweden, SVT reports.

Accounts used ordinary Swedish names and also posted about football and holidays, apparently to look human. Some had previously operated under other names and in other languages, including messages aimed at people in Taiwan.

The agency's report says the accounts were created by a supplier in East Asia that was financed by a state actor. The network pushed opposing positions on the same issues, including immigration and public-service broadcasting.

It was mainly active in autumn 2025 and spring 2026 before being shut down. Karin Lönnheden, the agency's operational chief, told SVT it was not directly linked to Sweden's 2026 election, but said voters should understand the capability as polling day approaches.

The agency's wider election assessment says Sweden is not currently a priority target for foreign influence and activity directed at Sweden has been lower than in 2022 and 2023. It also warns that generative AI has made targeted influence campaigns easier to produce and scale.

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